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Link here to FFXIV Guild guide
I play WHM as my 2nd job after Warrior. Currently Item Level 76 and generally it's my go to for coil. This guide confuses me some based on what I've heard other people state.
It suggests not using Crit at all, and I was under the impression that most "Skill Speed/Spell Speed" stats were underwhelming.
Anyhow care to give their two cents?
The reason why most WHMs avoid Crit is that either they arguement like:
-Your heals are big enough - there is no reason for them to heal more.
or
- More healvalue results in more aggro; and more aggro results in more getting face-smacked by mobs
However, I build my WHM on crit - the most obvious reason is probably that I'm using the gear from my SCH ( xD ).
Yet, I don't have any aggro issues, at least if I dont want them :>.
Plus i despise Spell Speed. If it's not stacked it's worthless and if it's stacked the difference is about 0.2 secs on GCD.
Well, the "other stat" which appears to be relevant for a heal is accuracy...gnahahahaha just kidding xD.... is Determination(in short: DTR).
As far as I know 4 points in DTR equals 1MND(/STR/DEX/INT). Well, yes it sounds great in the first place, but - as far as my testing, on SCH, goes - 1 MND equals 1.5 - 1.6 Pts of heal on a 400Potency spell (Physick/Cure1).
As a result of all these points i chose Crit for myself.
This a widely debated subject. In my opinion, Determination > Spell Speed > Critical Hit Rate. There are many that will agree with me on this as well as many who would not.
My reasoning for this is consistency. Determination provides a consistently measurable benefit. As does spell speed, even if it is only small. Critical hits can be very nice when you're in a curing spam war trying to keep your tank up or speed running something, etc, but they are by no means consistent enough to rely on which is why I wouldn't bother investing into them. In addition big heals when not intended can also lead to over heals which can be a problem in encounters when you have to watch your hate.
Sorry, edited my original post for the link that suggests my statements.
I am of the mind that for WHM stat priority is Determination = Spell Speed > Critical Hit Rate since both det and ss give consistent returns in different ways. The main reason for crit to be considered the weaker stat is that since it can't be controlled you can't plan around it happening like you can with slightly larger heals or slightly faster cast times. Also we have no "side effect" mitigation for the downsides like scholars. Scholars gain benefit on double sized adloqium shields and the ss buff from their pet on crit, which can outweigh the unpredictability of crit. Also scholars are less likely to have their target topped off because of the shields attached to two of their main heals which means a crit is likely to go to actual health as well rather than overhealing. WHM has none of these things and so its a better min/max choice to go with det or ss.
The reality is that because of the minute difference in stat stacking at this point it isn't like any build isn't viable, but I feel its pretty safe to say from a min/max standpoint crit is already behind the other two. But until stat stacking matters more have fun playing what you like!
Making an attempt to stack SpS on my WHM (accessory drops are not being kind to me). I can say for sure that SpS has saved my tank's asses many many times. I value SpS much more then Det and I value both MUCH more then Crit
I agree with CamAlch & Pharazon in the point that crit is absolutely not reliable. Yet it comes in handy once in a while. Anyway as said before, it's kind of irrelevant at the moment in which secondary stat you invest, try it out and use the one that suits you most or brings you the most fun or close your eyes and point on one, which ever option you prefer.
Well, in my head, seems like Spell Speed would be much more useful, even if it means a smaller heal. In DCUO, I played a Nature Healer, where Critical Heals made up a huge bonus because they were big on healing over time. But not sure regen/medica II tics make crits any more viable, considering Regen usually is only 1-2 targets, and medica II is such a hate builder.
As far as I see it:
Spell speed only contributes to your throughput when you are chain casting cures, an individual cast gains absolutely nothing, it also doesn't do anything for our HoTs or cool downs. If the cast time reduction is saving your tank then you simply need to precast more. Also keep in mind, using spell speed to achieve a higher HP per second tally actually increases the rate at which you burn through mp.
Crit is sketchy and erratic, strings of cure 1 crits are a boon when they occur and it's also worth noting that our hots can crit as well. *edit* Avoid having it ticking when adds pop or on the initial pull and the agro really isn't an issue unless you have tank issues.
Det has a fairly small impact on our potency but it boosts everything we do. Be it spam curing, a single cast or a lone regen, Determination comes into play. Unlike spell speed, the increase in HP per second doesn't come at the expense of our MP.
Needless to say, as whm I stack Det > Crit > Spell speed. I weigh Piety between Det and Crit.
Yeah, SpS is a very bad suggestion. This is not WoW where you have to anticipate attacks and then react quickly. Every fight in this game is choreographed -- you know exactly what is coming and when. Additionally, the amount of SpS you need to reach any useful breakpoint is massive, and SpS does NOT effect H/DoTs. If your you ever say that SpS "saved" your tank, it's because you, the healer, did not know how to do the fight, did not know what abilities were coming, or did not time spells between auto-attacks. Essentially, you failed at knowing what you were doing, and should review your play footage to improve.
Crit is not optimal as this offers uncontrollable bursts of healing output and nothing that WHM has depends on Crit.
Determination on the other hand offers a consistent increase in your throughput. It is the best stat to focus on, period.